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For the first time since its inception in 2004, Komikon organizers decided to hold a 2-day event and all I can say is—it’s about time. The Filipino comic book community positively received Komikon 2015 and if you were present, you could certainly tell. There was a buzz surrounding the Bayanihan Center this past weekend and by the time I arrived in the afternoon of Day 1, I could feel it in my gut that someone probably beat me out to that one Holy Grail bargain bin find.

I also have to tip my proverbial hat to the organizers on their logistics for Komikon 2015. Utilizing a single entry/exit points and strategically placing the vendors tables in the manner that they did was absolute genius! It allowed for the foot traffic to possibly pass by all of the tables and granted maximum exposure for the vendors wares and art. I don’t know what you guys paid, but I am sure it was worth it.

Clockwise: Komikom 2015 haul included two graphic novels (Deadpool: Second Cut [Max] and The Draft), two retail posters (Mark Brooks’ Ant-Man #1 (2015) | Greg Land’s Deadpool (2009)) [Not pictured], and single issues from Avengers, Captain America, Daredevil, D.P. 7, G.I. Joe: Order of Battle, Krull: A Marvel Movie Special, Marvel Age, Showcase 94′ Scarface, The Superior Spider-Man, and the West Coast Avengers. | The Komikon single- and two-day tickets ran out by the second day and organizers had to use amusement park ticket substitutes. | We saw the dry run of the APEC and Private car lanes on the way to the Bayanihan Center (Day 1).

Now for the ever-popular haul: For P1270, I was able to take home thirty-one (31) comic books (two of them graphic novels) and two (2) 24×36 retailer exclusive posters (at P200 a pop) by the time I left the venue on the first day. As for day two, I was able to find an addition four (4) comic books for only P250.

In any language, that’s is the mark of a true haul!

And I haven’t even gotten to my first ever comic book page story. (I’ll save that for another post.)

In closing, don’t you guys think that the Komikon organizers should start making this a quarterly thing? The Filipino comic book community certainly seems ready for it.

(From Left to Right) – A dream come true:Tedi Villasor was drafted 16th overall by the Boston Celtics in NBA 2K16’s McCareer Mode. | The latest article over at the NBA Writer’s section of NBA.com/Philippines.

Two weeks ago, I was asked by the Philippine Star to write a piece on the latest installment in the NBA 2K series–NBA 2K16. Below is a short excerpt of the article:

MANILA, Philippines – If there is one moment that I look forward to whenever a new NBA 2K installment hits the shelves, it is that split second when the game’s introduction flickers onto the screen for the first time. The anticipation, build-up and excitement culminate at that very instant and then it hits me: What will this version have in store for me–and by extension–all of us this coming season?

In NBA 2K16, the game has taken a more interactive approach than in years past by making us–the gamer–the centerpiece of the proverbial basketball world. We are that up-and-coming talent; that boy who runs rings around NBA 2K16 game endorsers Stephen Curry, James “The Beard” Harden, and Anthony Davis in the introduction; we become “The Man”…who was deemed worthy enough to stand up to[i] Michael Jordan in a boss fight.

NBA 2K16 allows us to become the story and our very own basketball journey begins with NBA 2K16’s MyCareer Mode.

Clockwise: Collecticon 2015 poster | Superman #4 (Vol.2) featuring Bloodsport! I had this one back in the day. Classic John Bryne! | Regular and Variant cover of Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #1. (P50 each)

Now in its 8th year, the Hobbiworx and PinoyToyKolektor sponsored Collecticon has always–in my opinion–served as an appetizer for what is to come. An occasion wherein we can ‘whet our proverbial palette’ prior to the the yuletide season.

I have been going to the Collecticon for a number of years now and if there is one thing that I admire about it is its familiarity. At least for the last two conventions, almost all the stalls were in the exact location they were the year before. The merchandise however was another story as they were either exuberantly priced or left much to be desired.

Simultaneously released during the recently concluded AsiaPOP Comicon and Manila International Book Fair by National Bookstore, Artiline Stix is a product for the young and mature. It’s “connect and build” design reminds me a lot of Lego and it certainly works well from not only a creative and “play standpoint” but also from an organizational one.

These Stix’s come in twenty different colors and in three different types: Drawing Pens, Brush Markers, and Colouring Markers. I’ve used all three mediums and the drawing pen is becoming my fast favorite.

Clockwise: Batman Endgame #1 [Special Edition] giveaway for Batman Day 2015 | Fullybooked Limited Edition print by artist David Mack [54/200] | Several of David Mack’s works: Kabuki, Reflections, and Dream Logic | View from above. | Several of the Fight Club 2 books that were being sold at Comic Odyssey FullyBooked. | David Mack is on-hand and about to start.

On September 26, 2015, FullyBooked in Bonifacio High Street will be celebrating Batman’s 76th anniversary (and what I have come to understand is to be the official “Batman Day”), with acclaimed artist David Mack (Daredevil, Fight Club 2).

Mack, who extended his stay in Manila after the AsiaPOP Comicon last week, is set to do some live art as well as sign his book and several of his limited edition Batman prints. The event is slated to start at 2pm today.

In conjunction with the Batman Day event, FullyBooked is offering 20% in most of their selection. I also noticed several Batman tilted going for 50%.

I know the world is a bigger place but it seemed as if all eyes were centered on the World Trade Center Metro Manila this week for the AsiaPop Comicon. The buildup for the event reminded me of an ever fluctuating stock market that had fans either lauding the AsianPop organizers for their vision and ambition or vehemently striking them down for not being able to come through with announced guests like Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones, Aquaman in the highly anticipated Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice), Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill, Marvel’s Agent Carter), and Bill Goldberg (WWE, Checkpoint The Movie).

Despite these setbacks, perennial Manila traffic, and the poor weather; the proverbial ‘Con was On’ and we punched our ticket for Day 2 of the AsiaPOP Comicon. #AntFam arrived sometime after lunch and made our way to the Pinoy 501st Legion’s[i] Star Wars booth for a photo with a couple of their members who were dressed as a Stormtrooper and a Jedi. Even R2-D2 got in on the fun.

Other notable attractions included a black 1982 Pontiac Trans Am that literally brought a nostalgic tear to my eye. It was THE car of my generation–The Knight Industries Two Thousand (K.I.T.T.)! A relic by today’s standards, I remember Michael Knight being able to play with an Atari console in that thing. Jeez, now my age is showing. Anyway, they also had a HUGE Ironman Hulkbuster which you could climb into for a photo opportunity. However, the process involved buying a t-shirt worth P250 which seemed simple enough except that the line was just so long that I decided to pass on it. Read more…

With what has become an annual event, the #AntFam marched to the 36th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) at the SMX Convention Center with excitement in our eyes: Indy gushed at the overwhelming sight of all the books; Daryl made a bee-line for the nearest adult colouring books; while I headed for Fully Booked’s impressive graphic novel section.

Fully Booked’s Instagram account gave me a head’s up on what to expect: a formidable selection of Marvel, DC Comics, and Independent books. I immediate scanned the Batman and Spider-Man sections and the first trade paperback caught my eye was Judd Winick’s Batman: Under The Red Hood. For those of you that may not know, the character of Jason Todd (The Red Hood), the second Robin, was killed off in the late 80’s and remained in that state until he was resurrected in 2005. I didn’t think anything of it until my interest in the character was piqued when I finished Batman: Arkham Knight and subsequently completed the DLC (Downloadable Content) Red Hood Story Pack. It really helps when you give the character an actual voice (Doesn’t he sound so much like Anakin Skywalker when he rants?) but I digress–I had been looking for the Batman: Under The Red Hood TPB for quite some time now and I finally held it in my hand.[i]

I took a moment and looked around; it seemed as if every people I saw had anywhere between two to five books under their arms. I guess when twenty percent is knocked off any price tag, it just makes our ability to spend seemingly more judicious. I finished off my book haul for this year’s book fair with a Batman: Arkham Origins Limited Edition Strategy Guide[ii] and Idan Ravin’s The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball’s Best Players.[iii]